NIFL: Bucks looking to slay Knights in rematch

With four games remaining on their schedule, the Bayou Bucks still have a mathematical chance to make the postseason, which is scheduled to start July 13.

The Austin Knights, meanwhile, have a realistic chance.

"They (the Knights) are by far one of the best expansion teams in the league," Houma coach Jack Phillips said.

"In this league, teams never give you the same looks. They're always doing something different. So we might see some things that are different from the first time we played them."

The Bucks, (3-7) who left town Friday night for their trip to face the Austin Knights (5-4) tonight at 7:30 p.m. inside the Travis County Expo Center, know their opponent has a better shot at postseason play, and Houma understands it would nearly take the miraculous to qualify for the playoffs.

The Bucks, who beat the Mississippi FireDogs 31-22 in Biloxi, Miss., last weekend, are coming off their road first win of the season. Austin, meanwhile, practically perfected the art of winning away from home over the past month.

The Knights have been on the road for four straight games, but their record has hardly suffered. Austin has knocked off four straight opponents away from home, and although they're still on the outside looking in, the Knights have a shot at positioning themselves for a wild-card berth in the playoffs.

And tonight's game is crucial to Austin's postseason chances.

"One thing I'd like to see is a good, solid fourth quarter," Phillips said. "We know they'll have one."

Before a sellout crowd in the Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center in the first-ever game for both teams, the Bucks found out how well the Knights can stage a comeback. Austin scored 30 points in the fourth quarter March 23, erasing a 20-7 halftime deficit to beat Houma in the season opener.

Last week, down by seven points in the second half against the Rangers, the Knights raged back for three scores in fast fashion, leading the way to a 38-27 win.

GROUND WARS

When the two teams first met, Michael Burks had 95 yards in the first two quarters, and the team combined for 164 total rushing yards.

Though Phillips said he hasn't planned a special ground attack for tonight's game, he did admit he'll try to run as much as possible.

"I always like the fact that we can run the ball. If we can run the ball, we will," he said. "Their personnel will make a difference. But anytime you can establish that, it opens you up to other things. We'll also go for a few long balls, too."

FRESH FACES

Part of Austin's recent success was due to a change in starting quarterbacks, where Prairie View A&M alumnus Josh Barnes has taken over for Brad Ericson.

Barnes threw for a pair of 2-point conversions against the Bucks on March 23.

"He's way deadlier (than Ericson). He's got legs," Phillips said. "He's a Steve Young-type of quarterback who can move around and not worry about the pocket collapsing. He can also get some big first downs on draws and keepers."

Houma will counter with a quarterback that wasn't on the roster when the two teams met before: Derrick Tate.

Phillips said he has been fairly pleased with Tate's play thus far.

"The (mistakes) he makes, we can certainly live with," Phillips said.

OLD NEMESSIS

Former Southern and LSU receiver Nemessis Bates will be in Austin with the Bucks for the first time this year, Phillips said Friday.

Bates had planned to join the team before the season began but instead stayed in New Orleans because of family matters (Bates' father died this spring). Phillips said Bates, who now has family members with him in Houma, would've joined Nicky Savoie, Matt Butler and Kevin Heard to form one of the most potent receiving quartets in the NIFL.

For the last few weeks, however, only one of them - Heard - was still around.

Savoie injured his knee against the Knights in the Bucks' first game, and Butler left the team after their first game against the Winston-Salem Energy.

THE INFIRMARY REPORT

Injuries, perhaps the Bucks' biggest problem all year, will keep at least three regulars out of action Saturday.

"Because of those injuries, the guys you're used to seeing, you might not see," Phillips said.

LONG DIVISION

Houma, currently the third-place team in the Atlantic Conference Southern Division, is still looking for its first victory within the division. The Bucks lost once to the Knights, once to the Oklahoma Crude and once to the Lake Charles LandSharks.

COLD KNIGHTS IN AUSTIN

Saturday's game will be the first event in the Travis County Expo Center since a new air-conditioning system was installed in the building.

Terrel LeCesne, Austin's media-relations director, says he expects at least 2,000 fans to be in attendance.

IN THE COURTS

Last week, the NIFL had ruled that the Bucks were banned from postseason play for playing two players that did not get their releases from the Mississippi FireDogs. However, the NIFL rule is being challenged in court. If the Bucks qualify for the playoffs, the banning may also be fought in the courts.